whooper swan

American

noun

a common, Old World swan, Cygnus cygnus, distinguished by a yellow patch at the base of its bill, noted for its whooping cry.

Etymology

Origin of whooper swan

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In January, cases of bird flu were confirmed in a wild goose found near Dungannon, a buzzard near Moira, and a whooper swan in Portballintrae.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2025

Bird flu has been confirmed in a wild goose found near Dungannon, a buzzard near Moira, and a whooper swan in Portballintrae.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2025

Aristotle, says Terres, unaware of migration, thought birds hibernated in winter, while Ice landers believed that the whooper swan, after nesting, flew off to the moon.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023